National Martyrs’ Day 2021: January 30 is observed as National Martyrs’ Day every year across the country. National Martyrs’ day is observed to mark the death anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhiji ‘The Father of our nation’. January 30 is observed as Shaheed Diwas every year to pay tribute to the freedom fighters of our nation who shed their lives for the nation’s freedom.
Significance of National Martyrs’ Day
Mahatma Gandhi was the forerunner of the Indian freedom movement. He was the pioneer of Satyagraha: a non-violence movement. The people of India have high esteem for his policy of Non-violence against British rule. Despite his Satyagraha-non violence movement, Gandhiji was shot at the Birla House compound in New Delhi at the age of 78.
Nathuram Godse assassinated Gandhiji, who opposed Gandhi’s views on the partition of India. Gandhi died at the spot on January 30, 1948, five months after Indian gained independence from the British. Ever since then, India observes that day as National Martyrs’ Day to mourn the loss of its greatest leader.
How is it observed?
On Martyrs’ Day, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Defence Minister gather at Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi at Rajghat in New Delhi to pay tribute to the father of our nation Mahatma Gandhiji.
The top-most leaders of the country lay wreaths in remembrance of the Mahatma. And salute by the chiefs of armed forces personnel.
Check other important days of 2021
Observance of Martyrs’ Day  2021
People’s initiatives: On the remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom, this year We the People Of India has called for the initiative of a human chain formation on January 30. The organizers have said they will form a human chain, observe day-long fasts, and light candles to observe the occasion.
A two-minute silence is observed in memory of Indian martyrs throughout the country. Home Ministry requested the states and the union territories to ensure that people observe this Day “with due solemnity”.
